We’ve all either been the person or listened to the person who waxed eloquently, speaking in lofting terms while trying to explain something to you but the reality was they were talking over your head and you left saying “wha?”

A myth in church and with some academics is that complexity is married to depth. While the opposite is true and is summarized by someone much wiser than I: The most complex things are the simplest.

In Nehemiah 8, the Israelites just finished building a wall and they were all gathered to celebrate their amazing accomplishment that was in the face of strong criticism. The leaders took out the scriptures they had and began to read it to the people. But they didn’t just read it, they began to explain it to them.

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.
Nehemiah 8:8

They “clearly explained the meaning… helping the people understand.”

You will know you are explaining something clearly when those who you are explaining it to, understand.

Most of the time, the deepest waters are the clearest. To aspire to be deep. Aim to be clear.